Filson Fan?

[DMB]

Mike - the Filson Cover Cloth is the thinnest weight material that Filson uses. It's a very tight weave making it the most water repellent of the Cover, SHelter, and Tin Cloth garments. The Cover Cloth raincoat I have sheds water like a duck, and has a dry finish liner but it really isn't made to be warm. It cuts the wind, but doesn't really insulate. I've worn it hunting and out and about in the dead of winter but you definitely have to layer clothes under it. If you want water resistance AND warmth, go with the Shelter Cloth or spring for the liner that goes with the one you showed.

The Barbour jacket is very nice. It also has some type of Tartan liner that may be a bit warmer than the dry finish liner in the Filson. It is probably as thick or thicker than the Cover Cloth and actually looks a bit nicer. I would pick it if I was looking for a more urban warrior jacket. It's a little more refined and the left handed British zipper is way cool.

Either one is a winner and you will undoubtedly attract hordes of women and possibly a few men with either. Also, get the attacheable hood. It's a nice extra to have when you need it and I think Barbour and Filson both offer it.

[jimyritz]

Mike - the Filson Cover Cloth is the thinnest weight material that Filson uses. It's a very tight weave making it the most water repellent of the Cover, SHelter, and Tin Cloth garments. The Cover Cloth raincoat I have sheds water like a duck, and has a dry finish liner but it really isn't made to be warm. It cuts the wind, but doesn't really insulate. I've worn it hunting and out and about in the dead of winter but you definitely have to layer clothes under it. If you want water resistance AND warmth, go with the Shelter Cloth or spring for the liner that goes with the one you showed.

The Barbour jacket is very nice. It also has some type of Tartan liner that may be a bit warmer than the dry finish liner in the Filson. It is probably as thick or thicker than the Cover Cloth and actually looks a bit nicer. I would pick it if I was looking for a more urban warrior jacket. It's a little more refined and the left handed British zipper is way cool.

Either one is a winner and you will undoubtedly attract hordes of women and possibly a few men with either. Also, get the attacheable hood. It's a nice extra to have when you need it and I think Barbour and Filson both offer it.

===========

Urban Warrior ...Thanks David..

[DMB]

Another option (and a bit less expensive maybe?) is this jacket in Shelter Cloth. It has the extra liner option but maybe not the hood. I like the look of this one better.

http://www.filson.com/products/shelter- ... 10015.html

[DMB]

One last thing: Whatever jacket you buy, get an extra can or two of the wax finish that goes with the jacket. You will need to re finish the jacket from time to time, especially if you wear it in the rain a lot. This process is a pain in the ass, but I have found a couple of ways to make it a bit easier.

Don't wait until winter to do this. It's best if you do it in the summer, as you will see.

1. Lay the jacket out on an ironing board and apply the wax with an old T Shirt wrapped around your fingers, like when applying polish to a shoe. Work it into the fabric, small areas at a time. It's a slow and tedious process, best done with a drink(s) and set up in front of the TV.

* when you are finished, the jacket will most likely look like shit. The finish will be uneven and mottled looking, and maybe even somewhat shiny depending how much/thick you layed the wax on.

2. Use a hair dryer on hi heat and melt the wax to get it to soak in to the fabric. This will give the jacket the even finish it had when you bought it.

OR:

3. Wait until summer and hang the jacket on a hanger in your car. Leave it all day in the hot summer heat. I waxed an old canvas hunting jacket with some Filson wax. It looked horrible. The wax was thick as hell on the outside making the jacket stiff. The finish was uneven and mottled looking. I stuck it behind the seat of my truck to use as an emergency/work jacket. It gets over 100 degrees F in the cab during the summer. I checked it a day or two later and it looked like it came straight from the factory. The wax was completely impregnated in the fabric and the finish was even. There was no residue/buildup of wax on the outside of the jacket.

* This method is much easier than a hair dryer.

[jimyritz]

One last thing: Whatever jacket you buy, get an extra can or two of the wax finish that goes with the jacket. You will need to re finish the jacket from time to time, especially if you wear it in the rain a lot. This process is a pain in the ass, but I have found a couple of ways to make it a bit easier.

Don't wait until winter to do this. It's best if you do it in the summer, as you will see.

1. Lay the jacket out on an ironing board and apply the wax with an old T Shirt wrapped around your fingers, like when applying polish to a shoe. Work it into the fabric, small areas at a time. It's a slow and tedious process, best done with a drink(s) and set up in front of the TV.

* when you are finished, the jacket will most likely look like shit. The finish will be uneven and mottled looking, and maybe even somewhat shiny depending how much/thick you layed the wax on.

2. Use a hair dryer on hi heat and melt the wax to get it to soak in to the fabric. This will give the jacket the even finish it had when you bought it.

OR:

3. Wait until summer and hang the jacket on a hanger in your car. Leave it all day in the hot summer heat. I waxed an old canvas hunting jacket with some Filson wax. It looked horrible. The wax was thick as hell on the outside making the jacket stiff. The finish was uneven and mottled looking. I stuck it behind the seat of my truck to use as an emergency/work jacket. It gets over 100 degrees F in the cab during the summer. I checked it a day or two later and it looked like it came straight from the factory. The wax was completely impregnated in the fabric and the finish was even. There was no residue/buildup of wax on the outside of the jacket.

* This method is much easier than a hair dryer.

Thanks David- I will print this..
Mike

[FlyPenFly]

Wow Garment care 101 from DMB. I didn't know he was a Korean dry cleaner. (In nyc the Koreans seem to have a monopoly on dry cleaners and sushi restaurants)

[DMB]

Wow Garment care 101 from DMB. I didn't know he was a Korean dry cleaner. (In nyc the Koreans seem to have a monopoly on dry cleaners and sushi restaurants)

Every military base I have been on had a Korean shoe shop right outside post. Every one of them can cobble the shit out of a shoe/boot. Got a great Korean guy here that I use as well for dry cleaning and resole work. Need to ask him if he does take out food as well. Man, I could kill 3 birds with one stone.

[FlyPenFly]

If House is a factual medical program, you probably want to avoid eating food where they store dry cleaning chemicals.

Korean food is one of those things where it should seem cheap like Chinese food but is surprisingly pricey.

[dukerules]

Great advice David.
Mike, I don't think you can go wrong with either a Barbour or a Filson field jacket. I'll own a Barbour Bedale one day.
If you want to go cheap, you might think about an M65 field jacket as well. 80 or so bucks for an Alpha M65 is money very well spent IMO. Sure, it's the opposite of a refined jacket. But damn good looking, functional, and cheap.

[Slipkid]

I have the Bedale in navy blue...Saved lots of bucks by getting it on the auction site. No holes or heavy wear, but there was some mildew. That, I think, is the biggest issue. Even after a year and a few days in the sun with a heavy dose of Lysol, it still smells "musty." There is a place in New England somewhere that will refinish the wax coating for about $75. Of course, the wait can be up to 90 days, so plan ahead. Buying it used and relatively cheap allows yo to judge if you want to spend the big bucks for a new one.

Build quality is solid and it still repels water. Can't complain.

[justsellbrgs]

Filson Bomber
Tutima Pacific
Red Wing Beckman

[justsellbrgs]

Wow Garment care 101 from DMB. I didn't know he was a Korean dry cleaner. (In nyc the Koreans seem to have a monopoly on dry cleaners and sushi restaurants)

Every military base I have been on had a Korean shoe shop right outside post. Every one of them can cobble the shit out of a shoe/boot. Got a great Korean guy here that I use as well for dry cleaning and resole work. Need to ask him if he does take out food as well. Man, I could kill 3 birds with one stone.

...and if he has some young ladies offering massages .... you might want to move in....

[justsellbrgs]

Mike - the Filson Cover Cloth is the thinnest weight material that Filson uses. It's a very tight weave making it the most water repellent of the Cover, SHelter, and Tin Cloth garments. The Cover Cloth raincoat I have sheds water like a duck, and has a dry finish liner but it really isn't made to be warm. It cuts the wind, but doesn't really insulate. I've worn it hunting and out and about in the dead of winter but you definitely have to layer clothes under it. If you want water resistance AND warmth, go with the Shelter Cloth or spring for the liner that goes with the one you showed.

The Barbour jacket is very nice. It also has some type of Tartan liner that may be a bit warmer than the dry finish liner in the Filson. It is probably as thick or thicker than the Cover Cloth and actually looks a bit nicer. I would pick it if I was looking for a more urban warrior jacket. It's a little more refined and the left handed British zipper is way cool.

Either one is a winner and you will undoubtedly attract hordes of women and possibly a few men with either. Also, get the attacheable hood. It's a nice extra to have when you need it and I think Barbour and Filson both offer it.

D- the left handed thing is related to having your "valet" zip your jacket for you..... popular with the British monarchy, and the royals have their valets zip the coats for them....

every once in a while I will put my Barbour on and ask my wife to zip me up...... to which she tells me to go to hell...

[DMB]

every once in a while I will put my Barbour on and ask my wife to zip me up...... to which she tells me to go to hell...

Funny, I have asked my wife to "unzip" me a few times and get the same response. Maybe it's just a zipper thing with them.

[ElChingon7]

every once in a while I will put my Barbour on and ask my wife to zip me up...... to which she tells me to go to hell...

Funny, I have asked my wife to "unzip" me a few times and get the same response. Maybe it's just a zipper thing with them.

The exact reason I wear 501s